BURGLARY EQUIPMENT FOUND IN CAR

Southland Times, Issue 23839, 9 June 1939, Page 3

BURGLARY EQUIPMENT FOUND IN CAR

CONVERSION CASES IN BLENHEIM (United Press Association) BLENHEIM, June 8. Three cases involving motor-car conversion under somewhat unusual circumstances came before Mr T. E. Maunsell, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday afternoon. Reginald George Blomfield and Edward Ronald Bennett, labourers, of Wellington, both men with several aliases and previous convictions pleaded guilty to converting at Nelson on June 1 a motor-car valued at £3OO belonging to Mr H. L. Harley. “These men are criminals, I suggest they be. punished to the full extent of the law,” said Senior Sergeant Smyth. “When arrested they had in their possession full equipment for burglary, including jemmies, gelignite, detonators, fuses and torches.” The police described how a general warning was issued from Nelson when the car was missed. The accused were seen switching number plates in Blen-

heim but realizing a constable had observed them they left town hurriedly, going in the direction of Kaikoura. Traffic inspector Laird gave chase, but when overtaken they refused to stop. The inspector had to force them into the bank. The Magistrate imposed a sentence of 12 months’ imprisonment on each. Two years in the Borstal and a year on probation were sentences imposed on Gordon Robert Dunn, aged 22, and lan Alexander Duncan, aged 18, who admitted the conversion of two motorcars. The heavier sentence was imposed on Dunn who was regarded as the ringleader. Three charges of car conversion and one of theft were admitted by Ross Harris, a farm labourer. It was claimed that Harris had fallen into bad company and had been drinking. He was admitted to probation.